Commentaries, Analysis, And Editorials -- February 13, 2019

Members of Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) stand together near Baghouz, Deir Az Zor province, Syria [Rodi Said/Reuters]

Anchal Vohra, Al Jazeera: What next as battle against ISIL nears an end?

Fears of a resurgence as thousands flee to IDP camps in the 'final' offensive to push ISIL out of eastern Syria.

It is the moment Abu Jaber al-Shaiti has waited for more than four years. A few more hours, a few hundred metres, and he will have his revenge.

In 2014, as Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL, ISIS) expanded to Syria through the Iraqi border, Abu Jaber's kin in the Shaitat tribe stood up to challenge the group's designs on their oil-rich lands.

ISIL hunted down 700 to 1,000 men, shot some and beheaded others, and even filmed their slaughter to serve as a lesson for the rest.

Read more ....

Commentaries, Analysis, And Editorials -- February 13, 2019

America's Effort to Isolate Iran Will Backfire -- Trita Parsi, National Interest

America's Mideast retreat -- Paul Salem, Chatham House

A ‘New INF’ with China? No Talks Yet, US Arms Control Chief Says -- Katie Bo Williams, Defense One

The New NAFTA's Real Target? China -- Jorge López Areválo, World Crunch

Russia wants to unplug itself from the internet. Here's how that works -- Daniel Miller, ABC News Online

Will the yellow vests movement spread across Europe? -- Tara Varma, ECFR

Global Spain vs. Catalan separatists: The ultimate PR battle -- Diego Torres, Politico.eu

Catalan trial: Will Spanish Socialists survive snap polls? -- Creede Newton, Al Jazeera

Russia Reset Redux Not the Answer to Increased Chinese-Russian Cooperation -- Bradley Bowman & Andrew Gabel, RCD

Could Russia and Belarus trade oil for national sovereignty? -- Emily Sherwin, DW

Door slams on guilty El Chapo after old mob pals line up to squeal -- Ed Vulliamy, The Guardian

Despite El Chapo arrest, powerful Sinaloa cartel marches on -- Maria Verza and Mark Stevenson, AP

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